Most of the Transformer cars and planes, the Dinobots,
Insecticons, Constructicons and Jumpstarters, even Optimus Prime, used
to be Diaclones. Most of them came with little human shaped figures with
magnetic feet. These were the so-called "Diaclone
drivers". They could be seated into the mecha, which they controlled.
This explains the little cabins, that can still be found in the Dinobots
and Insecticons. The early Diaclone catalogs show different versions of
the Diaclones than the later catalogs. I thought at first that they were
both sold, but the early versions were only prototypes (just like the prototypes
of Cyclones and Broadside in the Transformer catalogs). Most of the Diaclones
came in several different colors. Below is a list of all of the Diaclone
toys and their color variations. The list is sorted in chronological order
and split in Diaclone and Waruder
mecha.

I don't know for sure what they really are, but they appear to be small
square platforms with small cars that could be launched by a spring mechanism.
These platforms could also be connected to each other. Each type came either
in red, black or blue.

This 15 cm (6 inch) tall robot (also known as Multiforce 14) can transform
into 14 small vehicles, that could be used by the Diaclone warriors. It
consists of 8 different types: Blocker 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8. Gats
Blocker was sold as giftset, with 5 figures, or per type (two per box for
the double ones.

Three vehicles that can combine into a single robot. The
individual vehicles were called Mach Powered, Land Powered and Earth Powered.
Each vehicle came with a Powered Suit (see below) that could be inserted
into the vehicle. The giftset version came with one biosuit and three figures.
The single boxed vehicles each had one biosuit and one figure.

The Transformer versions of the Train Robos were only released
in Japan as the Trainbots. The Diaclone versions came in two different
color variations. Only the first variations were released as Transformers.
Trainrobos No. 1 to 6 were also sold as giftset with two figures and a
sheet with railway emplacement printed on it.

The F-15 Robos were the forerunners of the so-called Decepticon
"Seekers". Only Starscream and Thundercracker were released as Diaclones.
The Diaclone versions have plastic noses instead of rubber and "Diaclone"
written on the wings. The Diaclone version of Starscream also had F-15
written on his wings.

The Diaclone Constructicons came in two variations. The
early version had an orange Hook and Mixmaster and
with blue fists, gun and chestwing and the later version with a blue Hook
and Mixmaster and red fists, gun and chestwing. The giftset came with an
additional plastic rockpile, on which the robots can be displayed and cardboard
beams which can be assembled to form a building structure. As far as I
know only the early versions were released as individually packaged.

The parts in the Transformer versions
which are of a softer red plastic are of a harder chromed plastic (silver
or gold) in the Diaclone versions. The Diaclone version of Swoop also had
sharper pointed wing tips and beak.

The Transformer versions of the Omnibots
were identical to the Diaclone versions and were only released as mailorder
exclusives. The Transformer versions in the US came in clear factory bags,
while the Japanese mailorder exclusives came in non-colored boxes.

Of the Transformer Triplechangers was only Blitzwing released
as a Diaclone. The Diaclone version of Blitzwing had a thinner barrel than
the Transformer version and a much nicer color scheme. The Helicopter type
was oddly enough never released as a Transformer. In Japan the early Astrotrains
were black and white, which may indicate that they were intended
to be released as a Diaclone, but were canceled to make place for the Transformers
in Japan. So the black and white Astrotrains may actually be unreleased
Diaclones repackaged as Transformers.

Three vehicles that can combine into one robot. The three
vehicles were called Mosquider, Arinder and Sasorander. (B.t.w. there was
also a "cute" little kit version of the Warudaros). Warudaros was sold
as a set and as individualy packaged vehicles. Each vehicle has a different
type of Waruder figure.